News Briefs: Audubon society teams up with drag artist
The National Audubon Society has partnered with drag artist Pattie Gonia to invite the LGBTQIA community outdoors this Pride Month and to ensure that they have a safe and welcoming experience while there.
As part of the collaboration the society has released the first two of four videos celebrating Pride in the outdoors.From hiking in platform boots to ice skating in a famous dress made from recovered pieces of discarded trash, Gonia is the creation of avid hiker and backpacker Wyn Wiley, who said the character was born spontaneously on a hike several years ago, according to a news release.
It's now become a way to call attention to climate change crises facing North America's wild lands, the release stated."People ask me all the time, 'how are the queer and environmental movements related?'" Gonia stated. "I say, first, 'no planet, no Pride!' Second, there's such an opportunity for people so versed in social justice, like the queer community, to join the environmental movement.
Similarly, there's an equal opportunity for people versed in climate justice to help advocate for queer people."Audubon has celebrated Pride Month since 2018 with LGBTQ-themed "Let's Go Birding Together" bird walks, as well as other events including a "bird drag tutorial," the release stated."I feel like a proud papa — seeing Let's Go Birding Together take off nationally in so many ways," stated Jason St.
